Young Musician Finalists announced

Young Musician Finalists announced

Auckland Violinists lead the way to the final of the New Zealand Young Musicians Competition 2004

Judges Richard Wenn and Hamish McKeich announced the three finalists after two exciting days of performance in the Concert Chamber of the Auckland Town Hall last weekend.

Audiences were thrilled with the high standard of performance and this has caused a sudden rush for tickets to the final in the Auckland Town hall in two weeks.

In summing up their thoughts before announcing the winners judges Hamish McKeich, Associate conductor and Principal Bassoon of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, and Richard Wenn, Artistic Administrator of the Auckland Philharmonia said all eight semi-finalists were winners and they urged those not chosen to go forward to the final to enter the competition again in 2006. McKeich said he was excited by the high standard of performance and this was a reflection of the very high standards set by our teaching institutions.

After considerable deliberation the following finalists were announced:

FINALISTS ARE:

* Eugene (Nam Seok) Lee - Violin, was born in South Korea and is 18 years of age. He came to New Zealand with his parents in 1995 and is now a New Zealander. He has studied the violin for over 12 years and hopes to become an international soloist. He is currently studying for a Bachelor of Music at Waikato University.

* Simeon Broom - Violin is 24 and lives in Auckland. He has been auditioned and accepted at the Robert Schumann Hochschule Düsseldorf in Germany and is currently studying for his master's degree there. Simeon studied cello for seven years with Mary O’Brian in Auckland now in Germany he studies with Professor Ida Bieler

* Mok-Hyun Gibson-Lane - Cello. Moky as she is affectionately called is 22 and is a native Wellingtonian; she has been playing Cello since she was 9 years of age. She completed her Bachelor of Music (Hons) at Victoria and is currently studying for her Masters degree at Rice University in Houston Texas with the world renowned cellist Lynn Harrell .

Reserve

Malavika Gopal - Violin. Malavika was born in India and has been in New Zealand since she was 1 year old, living in Wellington. She started learning the Violin through the Suzuki method when she was three. She has learned classical Indian music and dance. She is 19 years of age and is currently attending Auckland University for a Bachelor of Music Performance degree.

Eugene Lee, aged 18, Manurewa Auckland

Eugene will perform Violin Concerto No. 1 in D major by Paganini’s

Simeon Broom, aged 24, Mt Eden Auckland Simeon will perform Violin Concerto Opus 77 by Brahms

Moki Gibson-Lane, aged 22, Hataitai Wellington

Moki will perform Concerto for Cello and Orchestra in E minor by Elgar

The judges Richard Wenn, Artistic Administrator of the Auckland Philharmonia, and Hamish McKeich, Associate Conductor and Principal Bassoon of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, named Malavika Gopal aged 19, as reserve should one of the three finalists become indisposed. Malavika lives in Karori Wellington. Should she be required she will perform the Violin Concerto by Sibelius.

The final will take place at 7pm on Sunday 21 March at the Auckland Town Hall. The finalists will be accompanied by the Auckland Philharmonia conducted by Marc Taddei. The event will be recorded for TVONE and will be the subject of a ninty minute special. Tickets $35 plus concessions. A booking fee may apply.

ENDS

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